Art of working sheet metal



- NOV. 3, 1936 W, T TAYLOR `2,059,292

RT oF wo Filed April 13, 1953 f L1; Il... @www Patented Nov. 3, 1.936

UNITED STATES A'lET OFFIE f ART OF WORKING SHEET METAL Application April13, 1933, Serial No. 665,887

Claims.

This invention relates to the art of working sheet metal and has to doparticularly with a process whereby a sheet of metal which has thereonan embossed name or other design may be pro- 5 vided with corrugationsor similar indentations or strengthening ribs without effacing theembossing to any substantial extent. As described herein, theimprovement is particularly adapted for use in the manufacture of sheetmetal containers such as are ordinarily employed With delivery trucks inhandling gasoline, oil and similar products, although it is equallyadapted for use in the manufacture of other sheet metal articles.

In containers of the character referred to, it is desirable to have thename of the owner afxed thereto in such a manner that it is clearlyvisible and may not be readily removed. It is also customary anddesirable to provide the side Wall of such containers with corrugationsfor the purpose of strengthening the container and for preventing itfrom being easily deformed when subjected to rough usage. Various meanshave heretofore been employed in aiiixing the name of the owner to thecontainer, such as by riveting or soldering a name plate to a suitableportion thereof, or by indenting or embossing the name in a smoothsurface of a portion of the Wall of the container.

The preferable practice heretofore employed in afxing the name of theowner to the container has been to emboss the name on a smooth portionof the vertical wall, the remaining portions of the vertical Wall beingprovided with strengthening corrugations. Such a construction, however,has been objectionable to the bureaus of Weights and measures of manyStates and municipalities for the reason that it necessitates a broken,irregular, inner surface which impedes the proper flow of the contentsof the container and results in the dispensing of inaccurate quantitiesof oil or other liquids for which the container is used.

In order to avoid the objections inherent in containers in which thename of the owner has been embossed in a portion of the side Wall whichis free from the strengthening corrugations, it also has been therpractice heretofore to utilize a double vertical Wall, the inner one ofwhich is smooth throughout its extent so as not to impede the flow ofthe contents of the container, and the outer of which is provided Withthe necessary strengthening corrugations and such embossed names orother designs as may be desired. As will be apparent, however, themanufacture of this doublejacketed type of container is more expensivethan a container which has only a single vertical Wall,

and it is one of the purposes of the present improvement to avoid thenecessity of utilizing the double wall structure heretofore employed.

Various methods have heretofore been attempted for corrugating anembossed sheet of metal Without interrupting the corrugations over thatportion of the surface occupied by the ernbossing. If the embossing isapplied.' to the metal sheet, and the sheet is then passed through theusual corrugating rolls, the embossing is practicallyeiaced or ironedout by the action of the ccrrugating rolls, and the name or other designbecomes so unsightly as to be unsuited for the purposes for which it wasintended. If the sheet of metal is first corrugated and the name orother design is then embossed thereon by the usual embossing dies, boththe corrugations and the embossing are unsightly and not well adaptedfor use.

It has also been proposed to corrugate the sheet of metal and emboss thename or other design thereon by the same operation. However, such amethod necessitates the use of individual dies for each name or otherdesign embossed on the sheet, and inasmuch as the production of acombined corrugating and embossing die involves an unusual expense, sucha method of corrugating andV embossing is objectionable from thatstandpoint, as will be readily appreciated. It has also been proposed toiirst corrugate the sheet of metal and then emboss the name or otheresign thereon by means of a corrugated embossing die having a contourdesigned to interfit with the corrugations previously applied to thesheet of metal. The manufacture of such an embossing die also entails anunusual expense, and this eX- pense is prohibitive of the use of such adie for ordinary commercial purposes.

In an endeavor to overcome the objections which are inherent in thevarious methods heretofore proposed, I have found that suitablecorrugations or other strengthening indentations may be applied to apreviously embossed sheet of metal and superimposed over the embossingwithout 4destroying or effacing the embossed design. In general, this isaccomplished by supporting the embossed sheet at intervals on one sidethereof and applying pressure to' the opposite side of the sheetsubstantially midway between the supported portions so that thecorrugating ribs are produced by stretching the material of the sheet ineach of the corrugations. By supporting the sheet at spaced intervalsand applying pressure substantially along a line midway of theunsupported portions, I avoid ironing out or effacing the embosseddesign to any substantial extent.

It is one of the objects of the present invention, therefore, tocorrugate or strengthen an embossed sheet of metal without eiacing theeinbossing previously applied thereto. It is a further object of theinvention to provide a method of embossing and corrugating a Sheet ofmetal wherein the embossing and corrugating or other strengthening meansmay be applied without the necessity of discontinuing the corrugationsover the embossed portion of the sheet. A further object of theinvention is the provision of a process whereby strengtheningcorrugations may be superimposed upon an embossed design withouteffacing the design. It is a still further object of the invention toprovide a method of corrugating a blank of sheet metal withoutdecreasing the linear dimensions of the blank. A still further object ofthe invention is the provision of protective means for embossing on asheet of metal.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood reference may bemade to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a plan view of a portion of a sheet metal blank having aname embossed thereon;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View through the embossed blank shownin Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view showing portions of the corrugating rolls;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View through the corrugating rollsshown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 1, with the corrugations applied to theembossed sheet;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional View through the corrugated, embossedsheet shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing the detailsof the structure of the corrugating rolls, with a sheet of metaltherebetween;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing a modied form of the lowercorrugating roll or supporting roll;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the embossingon the blank shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 10 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing a containermade in accordance with the improvement; and

Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view through the container shown inFig. 10.

In the practice of the improved process to which the invention relates,a sheet metal blank I is provided on a face 2 thereof with an embossedname or other design 3, preferably by impressing the same in theopposite face 4 of the blank, as indicated at 5, by means of embossingdies in any well-known manner. This blank, with the desired name ordesign embossed thereon, is then passed between a pair of corrugatingrolls in order that it may be provided with suitable corrugationsdesigned for strengthening and protective purposes. The lower orsupporting roll 6 is provided with a series of annular supporting ribs'I spaced from each other at such a distance as to determine the widthof the corrugations to be applied to the blank. Preferably, thesupporting ribs 'I are provided with a flat supporting surface 8 andtapering side walls 9, which, taken with the bottom wall I0, provide aseries of spaced, annular channels II on the supporting roll.

The upper or pressure roll I2 is provided with a series of corrugatingribs I3 spaced from each other at such a distance as to engage betweenthe supporting ribs 'I on the lower roll 6. The edges of the corrugatingribs are preferably slightly rounded, as shown at I6, and the ribs havetapering walls I5 diverging from the rounded edges I4 at an angleslightly in excess of the angle between the tapering walls 9 of theannular channels II in the supporting roll 6. The tapering walls I5 ofadjacent corrugating ribs i3 merge into a substantially hat wall I6forming the bottom of annular channels Il extending about the pressureroll I2 between adjacent corrugating ribs. Preferably, as shown in Fig.4, the supporting ribs 'I on the lower roll E extend entirely around theroll, while the corrugating ribs I3 on the upper roll I2 extend onlypartially thereabout. The extent of the corrugating ribs I3 about rollI2 will be such, however, as to provide corrugations of such length asmay be desired in the sheet metal blank worked upon. It will beunderstood that the supporting ribs 'I may extend only partially aroundthe roll 6 and have a length substantially equal to or slightly greaterthan the ribs I3.

In Fig. 4 I have disclosed an embossed blank, such as that shown in Fig.1, entering between the corrugating roll I2 and the supporting roll 6,and supported at I3 upon the faces 8 of the ribs l. Inasmuch as thecorrugating ribs I3 extend only partially around the corrugating roll,the edge I9 of the blank which rst enters between the rolls will not becorrugated, but will remain smooth, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. When therolls rotate to such an extent as to bring the lower ends 2U of thecorrugating ribs I3 into contact with the blank, the portions of theblank between the supporting ribs 'I of the lower roll are progressivelyforced downwardly into the channels II between the supporting ribs toform strengthening corrugations ZI. Inasmuch as the blank is supportedonly upon the upper faces 8 of the supporting ribs TI, and pressure isprogressively applied substantially midway of the unsupported portions22 by the rounded edges I4 of the corrugating ribs I3, the material ofthe unsupported portions 22 of the blank is progressively forced intothe channels II between the supporting ribs of the lower roll. By reasonof the fact that the blank is supported only at transverse intervals andpressure is applied along lines substantially midway of the unsupportedportions of the blank, and by reason of the angular relation of thesloping walls of the corrugating ribs and the supporting ribs, theunsupported portions 22 contact with the rolls only at the edges I4 ofthe ribs I3, and the embossing is not eifaced to any substantial extent,as occurs in the use of ordinary corrugating rolls where pressure isapplied throughout the extent of the inclined walls of the corrugations.

It will be understood that the size of the rolls Ii and I2 and thelength of the corrugating ribs I3 on the upper roll I2 will be such thatthe corrugations in the blank may terminate at a considerable distancefrom the edge of the blank, thus leaving a smooth portion 23, as shownin Fig. 5. It will also be understood that the width of the blankmeasured in the direction of the length of the corrugations, as well asthe length thereof, will be such as may be desired for the purposeintended. In the case of the particular container 24 illustrated in Fig.10, the width of the blank I is substantially equal to the height of thevertical side wall of the container, and the length of the blank I issubstantially equal to the circumference of the container. In thepractice of the improved process disclosed herein, it will be noted thatthere is no decrease in the overall dimensions of the sheet metal blankI by the application of the corrugations thereto. This is due to thefact that the corrugations themselves are formed by stretching thematerial of the blank in opposite directions in adjacent Walls of thecorrugations, the portions of the blank supported upon the faces 8 ofthe ribs 'I remaining free from lateral movement thereon. By reason ofthis, it is unnecessary to provide any surplus length in the blank fromwhich the vertical wall of the container is made.

After the blank has been embossed and provided With corrugations in themanner hereinbefore described, the ends are bent into overlappingrelation and Welded or soldered together, as shown at 25 in Fig. 1l, tothus form the vertical Wall of the container. The bottom 26, thetapering top 21, and the neck 28 are then secured thereon in anysuitable manner, but inasmuch as the structure of the container in itsentirety forms no part of the present invention a detailed descriptionthereof is omitted.

In the form of supporting roll shown in Fig. 8, the channels II areformed with curved Walls I' extending between adjacent supportingsurfaces 8. As will be apparent, the precise shape of these channels isimmaterial and they may be of any suitable form so long as the Walls arespaced from the corrugating ribs I3 suniciently to prevent thecorrugations 2I formed in the sheet from being forced into contacttherewith by the corrugating ribs I3 on the upper roll I2.

While my improved process of embossing and corrugating is illustratedherein in connection with a sheet metal container, it will be understoodthat the improvement is equally applicable to sheet metal blanks ofother types and for other purposes. It will also be understood that theimprovement is not to be limited to the precise manner disclosed hereinfor providing corrugations or other strengthening or protecting means.For example, I have shown corrugating rolls as the means by which thecorrugations are applied to the embossed blank. It will be understood,however, that the corrugations may be applied to a previously embossedblank by means of corrugating dies, and that such dies would be soformed as to stretch the material of the blank and form the corrugationswithout ironing out or efacing the embossing. Irrespective of theparticular means employed in applying the corrugations or otherstrengthening means to the blank, my improvement involves the methodwherein the blank, previously embossed, is supported at intervals overinconsequential areas of the blank, and the corrugations are formed bythe application of pressure to the blank substantially along linesintermediate the supported portions. By producing the corrugationsinthis manner, the embossed design is more or less uniformly stretched,and is not effaced or marred to any substantial extent. By my improvedmethod the corrugations or strengthening means are thus superimposedupon the embossed design without any detrimental effects upon thedesign.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim by UnitedStates Letters Patent 1. The method of afixing a name or other design toa sheet of metal, which consists in impressing said design in one sideof said sheet to thereby emboss said design on the opposite side of saidsheet, supporting said sheet on the embossed side thereof substantiallyalong transversely spaced lines, and applying pressure to the impressedside of said sheet along lines substantially midway of the unsupportedportions of the sheet to form corrugations in said sheet across saiddesign without eifacing the design.

2. The method of aixing a name or other design to a sheet of metal,which consists in impressing said design in one side of said sheet tothereby emboss: said design in the opposite side of said sheet,supporting said sheet on one side along transversely spaced lines andapplying pressure to the opposite side o f said sheet along linessubstantially midway of the unsupported portions of the sheet to formcorrugatio-ns in said sheet across said design and simultaneouslystretch said design in the plane of said sheet Without eiacing thedesign.

3. The method of aixing a name or' other design to a sheet of metal,which consists in impressing said design in one side of said sheet tothereby emboss said design in the opposite side of said sheet,progressively supporting said sheet on one side along transverselyspaced lines and progressively applying pressure to the opposite side ofsaid sheet along lines substantially midway of the unsupported portionsof the sheet to form corrugations in said sheet across said designWithout eiacing the design.

4. The method of afxing a name or other design to a sheet of metal,Which consists in impressing said design in one side 4of said sheet tothereby emboss said design in the opposite side of the sheet, andforming corrugations in said sheet across said design and simultaneouslystretching said design in the plane of the sheet Without eiacing thedesign.

5. The method of aixing a design to a sheet of metal, Which consists inimpressing the desired design in one side of said sheet to therebyemboss said design in theopposite side of said sheet, and impressing aprotective design in the first mentioned side of said sheet across thedesired design and simultaneously stretching said design in the` planeof the sheet without effacing the design.

WILLIAM T. TAYLOR.

